Tor Air

Tor Air AB was a Swedish charter airline based in Gothenburg. The company was established by private investors and received a Swedish Air Operators Certificate on 1 December 2008. It began commercial operations in December 2008, initially using a Boeing 737-400 leased from International Lease Finance Corporation. Its principal base was Gothenburg City Airport. Rather than operating solely as a conventional scheduled airline, Tor Air concentrated on charter flying and wet-lease work. Under wet-lease arrangements, the airline supplied aircraft and operating crew to another carrier, allowing that carrier to operate services without providing its own aircraft or flight personnel. This business model made Tor Air particularly relevant to airlines requiring temporary or supplemental capacity. The airline later expanded its fleet with two Boeing 737-300 aircraft. These aircraft were used on charter routes from Manchester to destinations including Preveza and Gothenburg, and from London Gatwick to leisure destinations such as Faro, Skiathos, Bourgas, Sharm el-Sheikh, Zante, Kos, Corfu and Rhodes. The route portfolio therefore combined Swedish operations with United Kingdom-based holiday flying to Mediterranean, Atlantic and North African destinations. One of Tor Air's most notable operations occurred on 25 April 2010, when a Tor Air Boeing 737-400 operated the first commercial service between Baghdad and London in two decades. The flight was performed under a wet-lease arrangement for Iraqi Airways. The service was short-lived, and the aircraft later became the subject of an attempted seizure in London connected with financial disputes between Iraq and Kuwait. The seizure attempt was unsuccessful because the aircraft belonged to a Swedish company rather than an Iraqi company. Tor Air's existence was brief. On 20 December 2011, Sweden's transportation board revoked the airline's operating licence because it lacked sufficient financial resources. Following the decision, all staff were made redundant and the airline ceased operations. Tor Air should be distinguished from Tor-Air, an earlier Swedish charter airline that operated during the 1960s from the former Gothenburg/Torslanda Airport. The two businesses were separate entities.

Tor Air AB was formed in Sweden in 2008 by private investors. The company received its Swedish Air Operators Certificate on 1 December 2008 and began flying in December of the same year. Its main base was Gothenburg City Airport, and its initial aircraft was a Boeing 737-400 leased from International Lease Finance Corporation. The airline developed a business model centered on charter work and wet-lease operations. This allowed Tor Air to provide aircraft and crews for other carriers as well as to operate flights under its own charter programme. The company subsequently acquired two Boeing 737-300 aircraft. These aircraft supported leisure flights from Manchester to Preveza and Gothenburg and from London Gatwick to a range of holiday destinations, including Faro, Skiathos, Bourgas, Sharm el-Sheikh, Zante, Kos, Corfu and Rhodes. Tor Air also undertook an internationally notable wet-lease assignment for Iraqi Airways. On 25 April 2010, one of its Boeing 737-400 aircraft operated the first commercial Baghdad–London service in 20 years. The operation was affected by a legal and financial dispute involving Iraq and Kuwait. A lawyer acting for Kuwait attempted to have the aircraft seized in London, but the attempt did not succeed because the aircraft was owned by a Swedish company and was not owned by an Iraqi entity. The airline's operations did not continue beyond 2011. On 20 December 2011, Sweden's transportation board withdrew Tor Air's licence on the grounds that the company did not have adequate financial resources. The licence revocation ended the carrier's operating activity, and all employees were made redundant. Tor Air is distinct from Tor-Air, a separate Swedish charter airline that operated in the 1960s from the former Gothenburg/Torslanda Airport.

• 2011

  Licence revoked and operations cease

  [1]Tor Airen.wikipedia.org

  Sweden's transportation board revoked Tor Air's licence on 20 December because of insufficient financial resources. Employees were made redundant.

• 2010

  Baghdad–London wet-lease service

  [1]Tor Airen.wikipedia.org

  A Tor Air Boeing 737-400 operated a Baghdad–London service for Iraqi Airways, reported as the first commercial service on the route in 20 years.

• 2008

  Company established

  [1]Tor Airen.wikipedia.org

  Tor Air was established by private investors in Sweden.

• 2008

  Swedish operating certificate granted

  [1]Tor Airen.wikipedia.org

  The airline received its Swedish Air Operators Certificate on 1 December and began operations in December.

A small Swedish charter and ACMI-style operator focused on Boeing 737 wet-lease assignments and leisure-market flights rather than a broad scheduled network.

• Passenger aviation · 2008

  Charter passenger services

  Tor Air operated charter flights aimed primarily at leisure traffic. Its United Kingdom-based flying included services from Manchester and London Gatwick to destinations in southern Europe, the eastern Mediterranean, the Atlantic leisure market and North Africa. Routes mentioned in contemporary descriptions included Faro, Preveza, Skiathos, Bourgas, Sharm el-Sheikh, Zante, Kos, Corfu and Rhodes.

• Airline outsourcing services · 2008

  Wet-lease and aircraft-with-crew operations

  Wet-lease operations were a central part of Tor Air's business. The airline supplied aircraft and crews to other carriers that needed additional or temporary operating capacity. Its Boeing 737-400 operation for Iraqi Airways, including the Baghdad–London service in April 2010, was a notable example of this model.

• 2011

  Operating licence revokedOther

  Background

  Sweden's transportation board determined that Tor Air did not possess sufficient financial resources to continue operating.

  Action taken

  The regulator revoked Tor Air's operating licence on 20 December 2011.

  Aftermath

  The airline ceased operations and all staff were made redundant.

  Source

• 2010

  Expansion into wet-lease and United Kingdom charter flyingStrategy

  Background

  Tor Air sought to combine wet-lease work for other airlines with charter services serving United Kingdom leisure markets.

  Action taken

  The airline added two Boeing 737-300 aircraft and operated charter services from Manchester and London Gatwick, while also undertaking wet-lease assignments.

  Aftermath

  The strategy produced several international operations, including the Baghdad–London service for Iraqi Airways, but Tor Air ultimately ceased operations after its licence was revoked in 2011.

  Source

1. 1Tor Airen.wikipedia.org